No, I’m not talking about LARP or Dungeons and Dragons or anything like that. I know very little about most forms of role-playing, to be honest. However, my favorite form of procrastination is a kind of role-playing: play-by-post, or PBP. This form of role-play has, undoubtedly, done the most for my writing over the years.
I started this kind of role-play when I was in the sixth or seventh grade, about 10 or so years ago. The forums–platforms for the role-play–were all based on Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series. When I started, I didn’t spend much time on the forums (which led to an embarrassing realization on my part because I had forgotten to log out of one of the forums for a long time). I was also issued a warning for a short period because I lost my temper once (I was entering puberty, so I did have some mood issues despite being mature otherwise).
However, things only got better from there. The more time I spent on the forums, the more engaged and, I’ll admit, obsessed I became. I learned how to develop characters using character sheets, became better at writing quickly and had my imagination supercharged by the high-energy atmosphere of the thread, and the forums even helped me learn how to better keep my temper in check online. The older members on the forums embraced me, mentored me in writing and character development, and helped me feel welcomed in the virtual world. I’m still in contact with a couple today.
Much to my chagrin, reality overpowered us all and the forums I loved aren’t really active today. I still visit them regularly and read the threads for inspiration (and perhaps delusional optimism that someday this hobby will kick up again).
Despite the recent inactivity, I wouldn’t give up the time I spent on these forums for anything. They made me the writer I am today. I know now that in order for me to develop characters, I really have to put myself in their shoes and see the world through their eyes. Writing those character sheets gave me the ability to know everything about my characters, even what the readers will never know. The quick turnaround in the threads nurtured a unique part of my imagination, which is that I can create entire worlds and character histories within minutes. I have a better ear for prose rhythm and what’s important in a scene.
You may not be a fan of the Dragonriders of Pern. That doesn’t matter. There are role-playing forums for almost anything you can think of, from popular series like Harry Potter to worlds that the forum admin created themselves. Find one that you like and join it. You shouldn’t let it take over your life and you certainly shouldn’t let it replace your writing. Rather, use role-playing as a break from your “professional” writing while still exercising your skills. You’ll have fun, strengthen your writing, and, so long as you proceed cautiously, might even make like-minded friends.